Cord-reel for vehicle-lights.



B. E. MoGOY & K. NASH.

CORD REEL FOR VEHICLE LIGHTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7, 1913.

1,125,858. Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

B. E. MQGOY & K. NASH. CORD REEL FOR VEHICLE LIGHTS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 7, 1913.

1,125,858,, Patented Jan.19, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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BARNEY E. McCOY AND KENNETH NASH, on NEW HARMONY, INDIANA; SAID NASH ASSIG'NOR- TO E. w. NAsI-r, on NEW HARMONY, INDIANA.

CORD-REEL FOR VEHICLE-LIGHTS.

Application filed. May 7, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that We, BARNEY E. McCoy and KENNETH NASH, citizens of the United States, residing at New Harmony, in the county of Posey and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cord-Reels for Vehicle-Lights; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. i

This invention relates to adjustable cord supports for electric lights and as its principal object aims to provide a cord reel constructedwith such regard to proportion, number and arrangement of parts that it may be cheaply manufactured, will be durable and efficient in its operation, and may be quickly and easily repaired in the event that any of the working parts are damaged or broken.

A further object is to provide an adjust able cord reel for electric lights which may be readily attached to any convenient portion of an automobile, and will permit the operator of the machine to quickly Inspect any punctured tires or damaged mechanism of the machine by merely pulling the hght in the direction in which the damaged portion of the machine lies.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification and then more particularly pointed out in the claims which are appended hereto and form a part of this application.

With reference to the drawings, wherein we have illustrated the preferred embodiment of our invention as it is reduced to practice, and throughout the several views of which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts: Figure 1 is a horizontal section through the reel. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the device as shown in Fig. 1 centrally thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken centrally through the device as shown in Fig. 1, being a more detailed view than Fig. 2, and illustrating the contacts and brushes employed in the drum. Fig. 4 is an inner face view of the base block. Fig. 5 is a detail view illustrating in section the portion of the casing through which the cord plays. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the pawl and ratchet stop for the drum shaft.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

Serial No. 766,239.

Proceeding now to the description of the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the base block of the reel. This base block is preferably circular in shape and is provided adjacent its edge with the circumferentially spaced screw holes 2, adapted to receive bolts, screws, or other fastening devices for attaching the base to any portion of the body or running gear of the vehicle. Mounted on the member 1 and secured thereto by bolts or screws 3 seated in the integral ears 1 is a cylindrical casing 5, the outer edge of which carries an inwardly projecting annular flange 6. The member 1 is provided with a central bore in which a drum shaft 7 is fixedly mounted. Integrally of the casing 5 is mounted a cylindrical casing 8, the bottom wall of which is arranged parallel to the member 1 and contacts adjacent its circumference with the annular flange 6. The casing 8 is open-topped, and receives internally a cylindrical casing 9 similar in construction to the member 8, but slightly less in diameter. The two side walls 10 and 11 of the casings 8 and 9 may which is secured as at 15 to a pin carried between the base walls of the members 8 and 9. This spring is arranged to rotate the cord drum and rewind the cord after this member has been drawn out in the desired position. The cord drum of this reel includes a metallic hub 16, rotatably mounted on the shaft 7 and secured in fixed re lation to the member 9 by any desired fastening means. Spaced from the member 18 and fixed on the hub 16 is a circular disk 17 provided to form a cord chamber B. The member 8 is provided with a pair of pivotal pawls 18 adapted to engage the grooves 19 formed in the shaft 7 and to hold the drum in adjusted position. This structure is similar to that employed in the ordinary type of shade rollers and forms no part of this invention, being disclosed merely to make clear the operation of this invention. The cord 20 carrying at its free terminal the electric light 21 is secured to the drum 16 by the attachment of the positive and negative wires 22 and 23 to the binding posts 24 and 25, respectively. The binding post 22 is connected to the positive wire 26 of the batteries or magneto of the engine 27 through the binding post 28, shaft 7, and disk 17. The positive wire 29 is connected to the binding post 25 through the binding post 30 carried on the member 1 through a radial arm 32 fixed onthe member 1 and provided at its inner terminal with a circular contact ring 33 arranged 011 the member 1 concentrically with relation to the shaft 7. The hub 16 carries an insulated block 34 in which is mounted a spring pressed brush or contact rod 35 adapted to contact with the ring 33 during the rotation of the hub. The binding post 25 is threaded through the insulating block 34 and contacts at its inner terminal with the stem 36 of the brush 35.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that when it is desired to unwind the cord it IS only necessary to pull the lamp conse quently rotating the hub 16 on the shaft 7 and thus unwinding the cord 20 against the tension of the spring 13. When the cord 20 has been drawn to the desired extended position the pawls 9 will engage the notches 19 and hold the hub 16 against further movement until the operator desired to rewind the cord 20, at which time it is only necessary to pull the cord 20 out a slight distance this in a manner similar to the manipulation of the ordinary house shades and the spring 13 will rotate the hub 16, rewinding the cord.

. It is desirable to emphasize the fact that invention provides a comparatively simple cord reel which may be attached to any portion of the structure of an automobile or other vehicle, and permit the operator to have a handy light which may be readily extended from its support to permit the inspection of any broken or damaged portions of the vehicle.

In reduction to practice, we have found that the form of our invention, illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment, is the most eflicient and practical; yet, realizing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary,

we desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, when required, without sacrificing any of the advantages of our invention, as defined in the appended claims.

l/Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a device of the character described the combination with a base plate, and an electrical circuit of a cylindrical casing mounted upon said base plate, a shaft secured centrally to said base plate and eX- tending outwardly therefrom into the casing, a pair of annular disks mounted upon said shaft within the casing in spaced relation to each other and to the base plate, laterally extendingperipheral flanges formed on said disks and disposed in over-lapping engagement with each other so as to space said disks and form a compartment, a coil spring secured at one terminal to the shaft within the compartment formed by the disks and at its other terminal to the disks, said disks being loosely mounted on said shaft and adapted for rotation thereon, an annular disk loosely mounted on said shaft in spaced relation to the adjacent disk and to the base plate, a hub fixed to said last named annular disk and to the adjacent of the first named annular disk centrally thereof, an electric light cord secured to said hub and adapted to be wound thereon, an electric lamp carried upon said cord and means for operatively connecting the lamp with said electrical circuit.

2. In a device of the character described the combination with a base plate and an electrical circuit of a cylindrical casing secured thereto, a shaft secured centrally to the base plate and extending into said casing, a pair of annular disks mounted loosely upon said shaftwithin the casing in spaced relation to each other, lateral annular flanges formed upon the peripheries of the disks and secured to each other in overlapping position so that the disks form a compartment, a coil spring mounted within said compartment and secured terminally to the shaft and the disks disposed in spaced relation to the base plate, an annular disk rotatably mounted upon said shaft in spaced relation to the innermost of the first named disks so as to form a light cord receiving compartment, a hub member connecting said last named and one of the first named disks, a light cord secured to said hub member and adapted to be wound thereon, an electric light carried by said light cord, means for operatively connecting the light with said electrical circuit carried by said last named disk and base plate and an inwardly extending annular flange formed on said casing and adapted for engagement with the outermostof said first named disks.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

BARNEY E, MCCOY.

KENNETH NASH.

\Vitnesses WVILLIAM WARD, E. W. NASH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents,

Washington, D. G. 

